See the Kingston University Masters Students’ Denim Collections
A prime way to create a consistent talent pool for the denim industry is to engage students. The Kingston University Masters Denim Project 2024, which just wrapped its third edition, provides this denim education with help from material manufacturers.
Throughout the two-month-long project, students participated in denim wash workshops with Isko and trim workshops on trims with YKK. They also had access to tools and materials including HMS’ abrasion pen and cotton, polycotton and TENCEL™ topstitch threads in various colors. Five denim mills—Bossa, Cone Denim, Denim Prive/Kassim, Orta and Tusa—sponsored fabric for the students’ collections.
TENCEL™ and Carved in Blue were proud to be among the sponsors of this program, along with peers including Marmara Hemp, Circulose, Coats and Hand Made Stone.
The project began in late January and wrapped on March 26 with a final presentation. Among the attendees at the presentation were Leanne Jae from Blackhorse Lane and Denim Prive, Mim Heyes and Burcu Surer from YKK.
Groups took reference from a wide variety of pop culture and design histories, including furniture and decor, jeans worn for sports such as motorcycling and horse riding, punks, hippies, Western and cowboy motifs, workwear and more.
“It’s been a huge pleasure to teach each week and mentor each of the 25 masters students from research, design, pattern, sewing prototypes and final garments,” said Mohsin Sajid, owner and creative director of Endrime and denim educator. “I’m very proud of the students’ hard work. Its not possible to carry out projects like this without kind industry sponsorship and support.”
The project will return in January 2025, with the class size doubled to 50.